Port at Harborside International Golf Center

What happened to this place??? I used to come here regularly, up until I had back surgery 4 years ago, so I was very excited to get back out and play what WAS my favorite course. It is very obvious that they have not put a single dollar back into this place since I last played 4 years ago. I was shocked to see the clubhouse and facility in the condition it was in. The carpet was filthy!!! Windows and bathrooms filthy!!! and that was just the first impression as I walked into the place. It was worse when I got to the pro shop and they had dirty, worn tape on the floors to direct traffic. They then set me up with a dirty and busted looking cart. You would think that with Covid, they would put extra emphasis on cleaning, but it is obvious they don’t clean this place at all!!! If all of that wasn’t bad enough, this place has the worst golf car paths I have ever seen. They would be better to just dump gravel all over them and at least make it a somewhat smooth ride which would have been nice for our painfully slow 5.5 hour round of golf. Yeah, the golf course was fine for mid March and from what I’ve heard it is still typically in great condition during the season, but that doesn’t matter when the rest of the facility is embarrassingly run down. I’m not sure if it’s still the Port Authority in charge of running the place, but it is obvious that management is solely focused on getting as much money out of what once was one of the finer courses in the area and into their pockets. I definitely won’t be back until I hear of a complete renovation or change in management. Disappointed would be an understatement.

I have played here a couple of times, but last summer was my first time. That said, this course left a great impression on me, and I played Starboard in late summer as well.

Overall the course is usually in good condition despite the amount of rounds it serves daily. The fees includes cart and a small bucket for the range. That said, there is a flaw in the fees. They either charge a $100 until 2:00pm, or $62 for twilight. Why go out at 1:40 when you can save about $40 waiting 20 mins? Most illogical, and they should do a better tier price system from peak times in mid-morning through mid-day to twilight.

Otherwise the only issue last year is the cart paths look like they haven't been touch since the 90s. Very bump like you're on safari.

Besides the weird pricing until twilight, and the paths, it's a great course overall. Challenging, but not unfair in my view. You gotta make your shots and reach the fairways, but many rough areas are playable and not impossible to get out. Also the slopes are fair too and not ridiculous on the greens or fairways where you are screwed no matter what. Slopes are supposed to challenge you, but fairly.

If you want a links style course with a few views of the skyline, check it out. It's worth it!

Amazing conditions and even better course layout! I got on the course during a “hot deal” for $37 total. It’s usually $80+ for a round BUT I feel like it would be worth the $80+ to play at! Epic course!

Excellent course for fall golf. No trees to worry about with leaves in the fairway. Great staff and facility all around.

Course was quite nice except for the greens, which after aeration are quite bumpy. Four hour round with a full course was nice. Range and full practice area closed for season. Bathrooms and halfway house closed, but there was a beverage cart circulation.

Really fun, but windy! Makes it more challenging. Course is in great shape, but greens were just aerated and range is closed. Happy to get in a great round in November!

Play both courses maybe 3-4 times each a year, but definitely feel I should have been notified that greens were aerated. Totally understand they need done late in the season but the greens were a struggle with the ball bouncing all over the place.

Also feel every time I come the cart paths get worse in terms of potholes.

The Port course is definitely the better, tougher and more scenic of the 2 courses at Harborside - especially the final 4 holes. Loved the layout and experience.

2 complaints for Harborside:

- they had recently aerated the greens - should have been called out on the reservation page or given a discount as the greens were not in putting form and had lots of holes filled with sand - which they have to do. Other courses give discounts for aeration or tell you when you book.

- the course is so Chicago in that the cart paths are one continuous big pothole and a very bumpy and that day splashy drive. it's embarrassingly bad for such a great track that charges a premium price. please spend a few dollars in the offseason and just pave the cart paths - they are a total joke and again, an embarrassment to the quality of this place!!!

- love the practice range!!!!

The day we played was perfect with a slight breeze. You should expect a breeze whenever you play here. It's very exposed and built higher than the surrounding terrain. The course was in great shape and played like a links course is supposed to. Expect your ball to run out and we had several go over greens into the longer stuff. The fairways are nice, but firm as they should be. The staff is excellent, very friendly, and will make sure you have a good time.

A side note here: This in no way reflects on the course personnel or the facility. I had issues with GolfNow's reservations. I made the tee time online and within 3 minutes I received a cancellation from the course. So, I called the course to verify the tee time and they had no record of it. I talked to Terry, Director of Golf, and after hearing the story, he assured me they would make sure we got on the course at that time and they did. Kudos to Terry and staff for making this issue go away. However, I contacted GolfNow by online chat and was in contact with one of their reps. After a time on the chat, he assured me that it was taken care of. We arrived at the course, 2 hour drive from Michigan and they still did not have our name on the tee sheet. I don't know what GolfNow was doing, but Terry had to call them and I don't know if it ever got straightened out. As I wrote before, we got to play at the time we wanted so it all worked out.

Enjoy playing this course, but I feel like I have to take Tylenol after navigating the cart paths. The greens fees and busy and expensive courses should pay for fixing some potholes.